Machine for decapping shells.



s. E. SEL-ALECK.

MACHINE FOR DECAPPING SHELLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15| 1912- 1169287, Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l. y

ATTORNEY THE COLUMNA FLANOGRAPH CoA, WASmNGToN, n. c.

S. E. SELLECK.

MACHINE FOR DECAPPING SHELLS.

AFPLlcATloN FILED MAR.15,|912.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: I INVENTR @am 07W W ATTORNEY me COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH coA, WASHINGTQN, n. c.

S. E. SELLECK.

MACHINE FOR DECAPPING SHELLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I5, 1912.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES.' INVENTOR @7a/.MMM

ATTORNEY TIII: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

SILAS E. SELLECK, F COLD SPRING, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR DECAPPING SHELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application lcd March 15, 1912. Serial No. 684,024. l

To all Iwhom t may concern Be it known that I, SILAs E. SELLECK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cold Spring, in the county of Putnam and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Decapping Shells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to decapping metallic cart-ridges or shells used in ire arms, and its object is to provide means for easily and quickly removing the percussion caps from such. shells after their contents have been discharged. The object is attained by the means Set forth in this specication, reference being had to the accompanying draw-4 ings, in which like letters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Figure 1, the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe machine. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine as viewed from the left hand end of Fig. 1. Fig. i is a longitudinal sectional view of the decapping spindle and sleeve.

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of an attachment 'to the sleeve y. Fig. 6 1s a view of the decapping spindle, sleeve and cross-head. Figs. 7 and 8 are views of the cross-head for the spindle. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view through the line L, of Fig. 2. Figs. 10 and 11 are details relating to the attachment to the sleeve y. Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of a part of the shell feeding mechanism. Fig. 13, Sheet 2, is a sectional View of the shell iolding mechanism. Figs. 111 and 15 are enlarged details relating to the shell ejecting devices. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the shell selecting mechanism. Fig. 17 is a crosls-section showing the shell and various parts in position for removing the cap from the shell, and Fig. 18 is a like view showing the positions of the same parts after the cap has been removed, and the parts of the machine are ready to be restored to their normal places. Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail of a means for producing a rotary movement. Fig. 20 is a modification of the' device shown in Fig. 19. Fig. 21, Sheet 3. is a side elevation of a receptacle for feeding the shells to the machine. Fig. 22 is a front elevation of the shell receptacle. Figs. 23 and 24 and 25 show the manner of feeding the shells into the receptacle.

The kind of cartridge shell particularly referred to s shown in section atD Fig.

Sheet 1,is a side elevation of 13. The closed end contains a recess for a percussion cap E, Yand a small hole opens from the recess to the interior of the shell. The usual manner of removing the cap without injury to the shell is by inserting a long punch through the shell and through the small hole, and driving the cap out.

The operation is called de-capping the shell. This machine is designed to perform the operation automatically.

By reference to Figs. 1 to 3 it will be seen that there'are three principal parts to the machine. all supported on the base b la. A

standard h Vsupports a bearing g in which is a driving shaft z carrying a crank disk e. The shaft may be driven with a hand crank or by power. The standard supports a. long cylinder a that carries the decapping mechanism, while the part c contains and supports the shell handling devices. The

cylinder a contains a long spindle o that is smaller in diameter than the cylinder, but is made to occupy the center of the cylinder bv a sleeve ,1/ at one end, and the cross-bar B at the other end, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2; to which the spindle is attached. The cylinder is slotted on the side next the disk e, as at 23Figs-`2 and 3, to receive a flattened part 16, Figs. 7, S of the cross-head- The part 12 of the' cross-head' fits the cylinder,'and the side stud 14: receives the end of the connecting rod f, as in Figs. 2 and 3. The spindle@ has one end reduced to pass through the cross-head, with a screw thread 15, Fig. 6. on the end of it for a nut 25, Figs. 2 and 3. The other end of the spindle o is reduced to a point 21 for a punch as particularlyshown in Fig. 6. Revolving'l the disk e gives a travel to the spindle QJ equal to the length of the stroke of the crank, which will be adapted to the length of the shells for which the machine may be made, the spindle requiring a movement greater than the length of the shell.

The sleeve y in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, moves freely on the spindle n and in the cylinder a. A key-way w, Figs. 4, 6 and 9, is cut in the spindle from the cross-head to nearly the end of the spindle. A slot in the under side of the sleeve receives a feather z that engages with the key-way, as shown in Fig. 4. A spring 10 on the spindle between the cross-head and the sleeve tends to push the sleeve from the spindle, which is prevented by the feather 2, as shown in Fig.

6, The feather s'shown .on the under 'side of the shell it drops through this curved' vcounter-sink.

of the sleeve, but it will be kept in place in the sleeve by reason of the Vfeather not leaving the cylinder when in use. The end of the sleeve that projects from the cylinder is countersunk, as at 22, Fig. 4, the object of which is to receive the small end of the shell d, as shown in Figs. 13, 17 and 18. The spindle /v is just of a size to enter the open end of the shell and guides the shell centrally of the countersink.

In the standard c is a channel y' into which the shells are received, decappe'd, and passed out of the machine. The outer end of this channel is shown particularly in cross-section in Figs. 3, 16, 17, 18, and a boss 73 contains a steel bushing 37, having a hole 38 through it, and the hole is concentric with the center of the spindle/v. This bushing is countersunk similarly to the'end of the sleeve fb, as shown on a large scale at 44, Figs. 14, 15; the countersink to receive the head end of the shell, as shown, the shell being thus centrally suspended between the sleeve and the bushing as in Figs. 13, 17, 18. .lust below where the shell is dropped the channel y' curves to the side of the machine as in Figs. 3, 16, 18. After the decapping channel and out of the machine. N hen the shell is released from between the end of the sleeve y and the bushing 37 one or the other end of the shell would drop first, owing toA the countersunk rims surrounding the ends of the shell, and the shell not separating from both at the same instant, so that the shell would be liable to fall crosswise in the curved channel below and become wedged therein. To obviate this is the object of devices shown on a large scale in Figs. 5, 10, 11 and 14. In Figs. 4, 5, 10 and 11, there is shown a sliding bolt 1 that projects beyond the end lof the sleeve y. The outer end of the bolt moves in a recess 4,

while a shank of the bolt is rounded and enters a round recess 7. A pin 3 `fast in the sleeve, passes through a slot 2 in the bolt, and limits the movement of the bolt. A spring 6 in the recess 7, Fig. 5, causes the bolt to normally project beyond the end of the sleeve, as in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6. .Vhen the sleeve is gripping a shell this bolt is compressed as in Fig. 13. l/Vhen the sleeve is being withdrawn from the shell this bolt followsfthe shell and pushes it from the Similarly, bolts 39, Figs. 14, 15, are provided in the bushing 37 that holds the heads of the shells.' Becesses 41 receive the bolt heads 40,'and the ends of the bolts extend through the bush bevond the limits of the countersink 44, as in Fig. 15. Springs 42 'are compressed within the recess 41 between the heads 40 and closures 43 of the ends of the recesses. Two of these are employed as shown in Fig. 113. lWhen 'the sleeve {l} :is releasing fa shell,l .the :belts uand clusive. The chute is removable from the standard cas shown in Figs. 21 and 22, the parts 60, 61 showing them .to be joined by a dovetail. A bolt 62, Fig. 21, operated by a thumb nut 63 connected to the bolt by a stud 64, is employed to secure the chute in place. The chute is high enough to contain a dozen or more shells. A groove CZ, Figs. 22 to 25, also shown in Figs. 2 and 3, freely receives the head end of the shell, and ribs 66 67 project into the groove, the ribs litting the groove 46, Figs. 24 and 25, that is in the end of the shell. lWhen the shell is inserted at the top of the groove it easily and quickly gravitates to the bottom thereof, or to the next shell, as in Figs. 22 and 25. To facilitate the feeding of the shells the top of the chute has a depression or notch 65, Figs. 22, 23 that just receives the body of the shell. If the ribs 66, that are solid in the chute throughout their length, extended to the top of the chute, and there were no notch 65, it would be' necessary to place the groove 46 in the shell rdirectly on the ribs, as it appears in Fig. But the ribs 66 only extend to near the top, and their continuatiens 67 are movable on pivots 68, Fig. rlhe grooves 71 in which they lie are deepened to admit of their moving and to receive springs 72 that are fast to the rib pieces 67. Near their tops these pieces are provided with slots 70 through which there are movement limiting pins 69. Normally the springs hold these pieces in the position shown in F ig. These hinged portions of the ribs in conjunction with the notch 65 expedite the feeding of theshells. The body of the shell is dropped in the notch 26, pushing-the ribs aside as in Figs. 23 and 24, the shell is drawn forward until the groove 46 meets the ribs, when the ribs are snapped into the groove in the shell, as in Fig. 25, and to the operator the sensation is as if the shell had been snatched from the ngers. rlhis enables an entirely unskilled operator to feed the shells into the machine. lf the machine is operated by a hand crank the operator can turn the crank with one hand and feed in' the shells with the other. lWhen the shells are dropped in the chute they fall down therein until the bottom one rests on the arms 31, Figs. 13, 17 and 18. FVhen the lowermost shell is decapped it is ready to leave the machine and the arms 3,1 are vdrawn freinunder it.- Theses-,ms 30fabeve-theshell at the same instant are thrown forward under the neXt shell above and support the column of shells until the lower shell is out of the way, when the positions of the arms 30, 31 are reversed, and the shells drop to the arms 31. The actuation of thecut-off arms 30, 31 is illustrated in Figs. 13, 16, 17, 18, but particularly in Figs. 13 and 16.

Referring to Figs. 16 and 13, the projection Z has a lengthwise bore, 35, to receive a shaft s provided with gear pinions 34.

One end of the shaft has a solid bearing nf,

Vand theV outer end of the shaft a removable bearing m. At right angles to the shaft above and below it, are holes 32 33, Fig. 16, for the arms 30 and 31, that are composed of two parts, the bodies 28 29, that fill the. holes, and the reduced and flattened ends 3() 31. The bodies are provided with gear teeth to enO'age with the gear pinions. Vibrating the pinion shaft alternately7 projects and retracts each pair of arms into and out of the channel y'. r1`he spring G, Fig. 13, inclosed within the cap m keeps the arms in a normal position, which is that shown in Figs. 13 17, that is, to say, the bottom arms projected within the shell channel. The cap m is secured to the shaft s and the spring (l. is fast at one end to the cap, at 26, and at the other end to the shaft bearing m at 27, and tends always to turn the shaft one way. rPhe gear shaft sv is operated by means .shown in Figs. 9, 12, 17 18. A projection g on the side of the cylinder a is bored as at 53, to receive the part s of a double cylindrical slide s, i', shown in transverse section in Fig. 9 through the line L, Fig. 2, and in longitudinal cross-section in Figs. 12, 17 and 18. r1`hat part s of the slide that moves in the side of the cylinder, is provided with a key 17 that projects through the slot 8 in the sleeve y, and lies normally with its edge parallel with and against the spindle o, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 9. rllhe key is pivoted in the slide, .as at 18, and a spring 52 tends to throw the key into the position shown in said figures, so that when the notch 11 in the side of the spindle e, Fig. 6, approaches the key the end of the key will be thrown into the notch, as in Figs. 17, 18. The outer part r of the slide is bored longitudinally and contains a. bushing s with its inner end shaped to a screw pitch as shown in Figs. 12, 17, 18. rlllie bore of this cylinder is in line with the gear shaft s', and the shaft extends through it, as shown in cross-section in Figs. 17 18. There is fast to the shaft a sleeve 0 n that has its outer end shaped similarly to, but the reverse of the bushing` s, so

that when the bushing is pushed forward to enga ge with the sleeve the shaft s is caused to turn. Rotation of the bushing is prevented by theV stop e9.' Vrlhe movement 1s just sucient to turn the gear wheels far enough Vto operate the shell cut-off arms. Thus, at the beginningof the forward movement of the cylindrical slide, see Fig. 17, the arms 31 are beneath the shell D, and at thel completion of the forward movement as in Fig. 18, the arms 31 have been withdrawn and the arms 30 are above the dropped shells, supporting any shells that may be above them. The outer end of the shaft s contains a beveled key-way 50,'Figs. 3, 9, 17 18. A slot in the slide s receives a pinstop 4-7 49, Figs. 12, 17, 18. The pin end of the stop projects through the bushing s and normally is held from contact with the shaft s as in Fig. 17, by the shoulder 51 which is the end of the slot in which the flattened part between the two cylinders s l travels, the slot being shown in cross-section in Fig. 9. The spring that acts upon the key 17 also acts upon the arm 17 of the pin-stop. Then the slide is moved forward as in Fig. 18, the stop being freed from the shoulder 51, the spring throws the pin against the shaft s. Then the said shaft is turned by the contact of the sleeves s o, as at 55, Fig. 18, the key-way is brought into engagement with the pin-stop, as shown, where the stop holds the gear shaft and the arms 30, in the position shown in Fig. 16, until the slide is returned to its normal position, when contact of the curved arm L18 of the stop against the shoulder 51 will lift the pinstop, release the shaft, and the spring G', Fig. 13, will. restore the gear shaft and the cut-off arms to their normal positions.

Fig. 16 illustrates a. decapped shell, in broken lines, leaving the machine. It drops down through the curved part of the chan nel j, and out upon `an inclined platform 24, shown in Figs. 3 and 16. This platform is made detachable from the machine as shown in the latter figure.

rlhe several parts and operations having been described, reference will now be made particularly to Figs. 6, 17, 18, iniexplanation of the consecutive operations of the machine during a revolution of the crank. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, the crank moving in the direction of the arrow on the disk in Fig. 1, is just completing a stroke. When the crank starts upon its forward stroke a shell is in position on the bottom cut-off arms 31. The advancing spindle i; enters the shell, and the sleeve y impelled by the spring behind it is also carried forward until it meets the shell, which becomes suspended between the end of the sleeve and the opposite bushing 37. lVhen the spindle is nearly through the shell the various parts that coperate in its decapping are in the positions shown in Fig. 17 the notch 11 in the spindle has engaged with the key 17 in the slide s 1, so that the slide will be carried forward by the further advance of the spindle, causing-the' shell being operated upon to be cut olf from the column of shells in the chute. In completing the stroke of the crank the slide will advance, change the cut-0E arms, and the spindle will push out the cap E, as shown in Fig. 18. The return stroke of the crank withdraws the spindle from the shell, the sleeve from contact with the shell and the slide back to its normal position, releasing the cut-off mechanism, and bringing another shell in position and dropping the decapped shell from the machine. I

Figs. 19 and 20 show modifications of the means for actuating the cut-olf arms.

Fig. 19 represents the sleeves that act with the shaft s to operate the shell cut-off, the figure representing the parts as taken from the machine and turned to the right. The sleeve a o is fast to the spindle, the sleeve s being the one made fast as a bushing in the slide s r.

Fig. 2O represents a means for dispensing with the shaft retracting spring G in Fig. 18, and the pin-stop 17 49 in Fig. 12. The shaft s has three sleeves u u fast upon it. The middle sleeve u would be the bushing in the slide. Moving the bush in one direction against the sleeve u would turn the shaft one way, moving it against the sleeve u would turn the shaft the other way. In this manner the operation of the cut-off arms would be effected in both directions by the movement of the slide s r instead of in one direction by the action of the spring G.

As the machine is of a size to be easily porta-ble, the Figs. 1, 2, 3 being half the actual size of the machine, the inclined plane 24, Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 16 is made detachable, similarly to the shell feeding chute.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. ln a machine for decapping shells the combination of a cylinder containing a reciprocating spindle for removing the cap, a rotating means for giving a reciprocating motion to the said spindle, means in line with the cylinder and means attached to the spindle for securing the shells in position, and means attached to the spindle for operating shell cut-off devices, the shell. holding and cut-offl devices comprising a chute for the passage of the shells, shell supporting and cut-offl arms Within said chute the cut-off arms operative means contiguous to the chute operated by the means uniting said parts with the main reciprocating spindle.

2. 1n a machine for decapping shells means for supporting the shell comprising a standard having a channel for the passage of the shells through it, a countersunk bushing therein for holding the head end of the shell in line with the decapping spindle, a sleeve on the decapping spindle countersunk to receive one end of the shell, .and v2l,

spring on the spindle to impel the sleeve against the shell.

3. In a machine for decapping shells, combined means for supporting and releasing shells, the shell comprising a standard having a channel for the passage of the shells through it, a countersunk bushing in the channel in line with the decapping spindle, a sleeve on the decapping spindle countersunk to receive one end of the shell, a spring on the said spindle to impel the sleeve on the Aspindle against the shell, and a slot in the spindle and a feather in the'VY sleeve to engage with the slot in the spindle to move the sleeve away from the shell.

1. rThe combination in a machine for decapping shells of means for holding and dropping the shells in the shell race-way, comprising a fixed countersunk recess to support the closed end of the shell, and a movable spindle and sleeve with a countersunk recess in the end of the sleeve for holding the open end of the shell, and spring actuated bolts in the said recesses to push the shells fromv the recesses after the decapitation of the shell.

5. The combination in a machine for decapping shells of a cylinder, a crosshead having a reciprocating motion in the cylinder, a decapping spindle attached to the.`

crosshead, a sliding sleeve on the outer end of the spindle for grasping the shell between its outer end and a support for the other end of the shell, a feather in the sleeve eX- tending into a slot in the spindle for limiting the outward movement of the sleeve and withdrawing the sleeve from the shell, and a spring on the spindle between the spring and the cross-head.

6. In a machine as described for decapping shells, a shell cut-oil1 mechanism comprising two sets of arms for alternate projection into the channel for the passage of the shells, said arms operated by gear pinions fast to a shaft extending through a slide having support in the side of the cylinder carrying the decapping spindle, means within the slide and on the shaft-whereby advancing the slide turns the shaft in one direction, the said slide provided with a hinged key extending a slot in the shell holding sleeve and adapted to engage with a notch vin the spindle, a slot in the end of the gear shaft and a stop in the slide for engagement with the slot, and a retracting spring attached to fixed points to act upon the shaft, the said parts coperating to effect reciprocations of the shell cut-off arms as set forth.

7. In la shell cut-offl mechanism as described the combination with the slide s r and the shaft s', of a spring inclosing cap on the shaft, va spring with one end fast in the 'capand oneend fast in a bearing v of the shaft, a sleeve fast on the shaft, a bushing iiXed in the slide, the shaft passing through the bushing, the sleeve and bushing provided With abutting ends shaped into screw pitches, so that the moving slide Will cause the turning of the shaft, a slot in the shaft, a spring actuated stop in the slide for engagement With the slot in the shaft, and a fixed point at the end of the travel of the slide to disengage the stop from the slot in the shaft.

8. In a shell decapping machine a chute for feeding the shells in Which the groove for the shells is provided with ribs to engage With the groove in the end of the shell, the

top of the chute provided with a notch to receive the body of the shell the ends of the ribs that extend along said notch being separate from the main lengths of the ribs and pivoted at their lower ends, and having limiting stops at their upper ends, and a spring to keep the said parts of ribs normally projected Within the notch.

Signed at Cold Spring in the county of Putnam and State of New York this 5th day of March A. D. 1912.

SILAS E. SELLECK.

Witnesses:

VM.H.H1LL, Y u WM. MURRAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

